“We agree with the overwhelming majority of the American people who support ‘order on the border’ as the primary principle in tackling the complex issues created by illegal immigration,” the party’s proposed platform says. “The party believes that all necessary physical, financial, legal and technological means must be deployed immediately to stop the flow of illegal aliens, organized crime and potential terrorists across our borders.”

A couple of Democratic state lawmakers from San Antonio don’t think too much of the GOP stance and said so outside the convention.

“That’s just a fantasy platform,” Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-San Antonio, said. “It’s driven by xenophobia a fear of other people, a fear of the future.”

It would be better for Texas Republicans to reflect the integrated nature of the convention’s host city, Castro said. “San Antonio is a snapshot of the future. I would tell them there’s nothing to be afraid of.”

Castro and state Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer, D-San Antonio, agreed that the country’s borders must be secured. But President Bush’s plan is considerably more reasonable than what his fellow Republicans propose, they said.

“For them to adopt such an egregious proposal makes their platform look more like a hate crime than a policy position,” Fischer said.

Building a 2,000 -mile fence and rounding up and deporting 12 million workers would carry a hefty price tag.

“These conservative, no-new-taxes Republicans have to find a way to pay for it,” Fischer said.

The U.S. public demands secure borders , and Republicans agree, says the proposed state GOP platform.

“The party opposes illegal immigration, amnesty in any form, or legal status for illegal immigrants,” it says. “Illegal aliens have, by definition, committed a criminal act.”